Andalusia Land Cover

Satellite data can be regularly used to derive information on the usage of the land. Such information is collected every 3 to 5 years to identify how Europe’s landscape is changing. "What we are able to see from satellite data is that the increase in soil that is sealed off by human infrastructure activities is even greater than we anticipated", says Chris Steenmans, Project Manager for Land and Remote Sensing at the EEA. "Fragmentation of land is a time bomb. Each year only a small fraction of the landscape will change its function. This is not enough for you to really feel the change as dramatic. But if you use satellite data over a span of ten years you can really see a difference". Copyright: EEA – Corine landcover; Data: ESA